Autonomous agricultural vehicle comprising a hydrogen-powered main propulsion system

Abstract

The present invention relates to an autonomous agricultural vehicle (1) comprising a framework (2) and wheels (3), the framework (2) having a width, two flanks, one on each side of a longitudinal axis (X) of the autonomous agricultural vehicle (1), and a top, at least one tool being able to be housed in a working volume (20) defined by the width and the top of the framework (2), the autonomous agricultural vehicle (1) moreover comprising a hydrogen-powered propulsion system comprising at least one hydrogen fuel cell (100). The autonomous agricultural vehicle according to the invention moreover comprises at least one hydrogen cylinder (11,12) positioned longitudinally on the top of the framework (2), the hydrogen fuel cell (100) being configured to consume hydrogen from the at least one hydrogen cylinder (11, 12) and oxygen captured from the air so as to supply electrical power to an electric motor of the hydrogen-powered propulsion system.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An autonomous agricultural vehicle comprising a framework, wheels, the framework having a width, two flanks on either side of a longitudinal axis of the autonomous agricultural vehicle, and a top, at least one tool being able to be accommodated in a useful volume defined by the width and the top of the framework, the autonomous agricultural vehicle further comprising a hydrogen-powered propulsion system comprising at least one hydrogen fuel cell, wherein said autonomous agricultural vehicle further comprises at least one hydrogen cylinder arranged longitudinally on top of the framework, the framework further comprising two transverse beams attached to two longitudinal beams, the at least one hydrogen cylinder resting by its ends and being attached to the two transverse beams, the hydrogen fuel cell being configured to consume hydrogen from the at least one hydrogen cylinder and oxygen captured from the air, so as to supply electrical energy to an electric motor of the hydrogen-powered propulsion system. 
     
     
         10 . The autonomous agricultural vehicle according to  claim 9 , comprising two hydrogen cylinders arranged longitudinally on the top of the framework parallel to each other, on either side of the longitudinal axis of the autonomous agricultural vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The autonomous agricultural vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the distance between the two transverse beams, along the longitudinal axis, is adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . The autonomous agricultural vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the hydrogen fuel cell also supplies electrical energy to one or more items of electrical equipment on the autonomous agricultural vehicle, including: one or more electrical power converters; one or more batteries; one or more computers. 
     
     
         13 . The autonomous agricultural vehicle according to  claim 9 , comprising at least one battery, in particular a lithium-ion battery, arranged on one flank of the framework and attached to the latter. 
     
     
         14 . The autonomous agricultural vehicle according to  claim 9 , comprising at least one air filter adapted to filter air and at least one computer arranged on a flank of the autonomous agricultural vehicle, and being configured to control the admission of hydrogen from the at least one hydrogen cylinder and oxygen obtained by means of the air filter, in the at least one hydrogen fuel cell, to produce a quantity of electrical energy powering the electric motor of the hydrogen-powered propulsion system. 
     
     
         15 . The autonomous agricultural vehicle according to  claim 9 , comprising at least one tank configured to comprise an active product and means for spraying the active product arranged in the useful volume, substantially in a longitudinal median plane of the autonomous agricultural vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The autonomous agricultural vehicle according to  claim 15 , comprising containment panels arranged on the flanks of the autonomous agricultural vehicle and configured to block the diffusion of active product to the outside of the useful volume.